Volleyball Rallies Past Hofstra, 3-1

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ALBANY, N.Y. - Senior Allie Matters (North Tonowanda, N.Y.) set the tone defensively with 31 digs as the Seton Hall volleyball team defeated Hofstra, 3-1 (21-25, 25-19, 25-11, 25-19), to wrap up the University of Albany Classic. The win is the first in seven tries all-time against the Pride (0-5).

Matters has now recorded double-figure digs in 43 consecutive matches, dating back to the end of the 2007 season. Junior Sarah Osmun (Crystal Lake, Ill.) notched her first double-double of the season with 17 kills and 12 digs.

Freshman Olivia Trudeau (Shell Beach, Calif.) handed out a career-best 50 assists, and is the first SHU player other than Brittany Rahrer to reach that plateau since 2004.

The Pirates turned a three-point deficit into a 17-14 lead in the opening set, but struggled with several attack errors to let Hofstra get back into the game. With the score tied at 19-19, three straight miscues gave the Pride enough cushion to capture the first set, 25-21.

Four Osmun kills sparked a 10-2 run to set the tone early in set number two, but Hofstra refused to go quietly. The Pride methodically cut into the seemingly insurmountable lead, and tied the score, 16-16. Head coach Kris Zeiter was given a yellow card after Hofstra knotted the set, which ultimately sparked his team to outscore the Pride 8-3 to close the game and even the match at one set apiece.

The Hall used the momentum from set two and turned it into a quick 10-3 lead in the third. After Hofstra pulled within 11-8, SHU slammed the door on any comeback bid with an impressive 14-3 run to runaway to a 25-11 win.

With the fourth set still in the balance, Osmun came through once again with three straight kills to push a once slim lead to a 17-10 advantage. The Pride closed the gap to 18-15, but came no closer and the Pirates moved to 2-4 on the season.

Freshman Morgan DeVries (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and sophomore Meghan Matusiak (Winfield, Ill.) were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Seton Hall has its home opener against LIU on Tuesday, September 8, at 7:00 p.m. in Walsh Gymnasium.